The 6.9 magnitude tremor, which triggered panic among tourists and locals on Sunday evening, was also felt on Bali, one of Southeast Asia's leading tourist destinations.

At least one person was killed by falling debris and dozens of buildings and temples were damaged on the majority-Hindu island, said I Wayan Karnawan, head of the local disaster mitigation agency in Bangli regency.

American model Chrissy Teigen, who is staying in Bali with her children and singer husband John Legend, live-tweeted the quake.

"Bali. Trembling. So long," she told her 10.6 million followers.

"We are safe, up high and nothing around us. Thinking about everyone around us and in Lombok especially," she added.

The main tourist areas of Lombok in the south and west of the island appear to have been spared the worst of the damage.

Lombok's beaches and hiking trails draw holidaymakers from around the world. But some fearful tourists were already trying to leave.

A French tourist, who gave his name as Jina, told local broadcaster Metro TV he had tried to rush to Lombok's main airport.

"But there was no taxi, no transport, no plan for evacuation."

"Later I stopped a car and I asked a local to please take me and my family to the airport and he said 'Okay no problem'."

National flag carrier Garuda said it would put on extra flights from Lombok to Jakarta to help tourists who wanted to leave.

Most of the victims in the latest disaster died in the north and east of Lombok. Thousands were evacuated to outside shelters.

Bali's international airport suffered damage to its terminal but the runway was unaffected and operations had returned to normal, disaster agency officials said.

Tourists queue to depart from Lombok International Airport

Foreign tourists and hotel staff stand on the street afer being evacuated in Bali's capital Denpasar on Sunday night